OLYMPIC Champion Galal Yafai has boxed in London (twice), New York and The United Arab Emirates since turning over and he’s again house this weekend. Eddie Hearn takes the DAZN cameras to the Utilita Arena in Birmingham the place Yafai tops the invoice in opposition to Tommy Frank, the previous British flyweight and Commonwealth super-flyweight champion from Sheffield.
Yafai reckons this shall be his first outing in his house metropolis for round a decade.
The 30-year-old southpaw is a product of Birmingham City ABC and head coach Frank O’Sullivan MBE. O’Sullivan, who additionally skilled large brothers Kal and Gamal, needed to persuade Yafai to stay with boxing round a decade in the past as he struggled to search out the time for coaching round his job.
O’Sullivan instructed Yafai he might turn out to be an Olympian. He certified for the 2016 Olympics by profitable his 26th bout and after lacking out on a medal in Rio, Yafai took flyweight gold in Tokyo.
Yafai, 4-0 (3), now seems to be to be settling into the professionals. The Yafai we noticed beat Mexican veteran Moises Calleros in April was completely different to the Yafai of his first three fights.
On his professional debut, in February 2022, he ate just a few counters from non-punching Mexican Carlos Bautista earlier than getting the stoppage after which unloaded on Miguel Cartagena for six minutes till the Philadelphian retired.
There seems to have been a rethink after Yafai was taken to a 10-round cut up by Gohan Rodriguez Garcia final November. To most ringsiders, he gained clearly over 10, however there wasn’t a lot in it on the scorecards. Yafai gained a cut up after two judges had him up by one and two rounds and the opposite had him dropping by one.
The playing cards have been proof Yafai had taken too many and final trip, in April, he slowed down, picked his photographs and thought relatively extra about what was coming again at him. He stored his fingers up and edged out and in with his toes, relatively than all the time staying in punching vary.
Calleros was recreation, however Yafai unravelled him in 4.
Frank, 15-3-1 (3), is coming off a loss, Swansea’s Jay Harris taking away the British title with a tenth spherical stoppage in May. Frank seems to have discovered his degree.
There had been discuss of him combating Sunny Edwards – now on Yafai’s radar – till he twice misplaced to Rosendo Guarneros, a Mexican schooled by Edwards.
Craig Derbyshire, the 8-28-3 Yorkshireman who he had beforehand crushed, held him to a attract a British title defence and Frank goes into Saturday with two wins and a draw from his final six.
He’s identified to be tight at 112lbs and has struggled with opponents who combat at a excessive tempo. We may even see a return to the whirlwind Yafai, however nonetheless he approaches the job, count on Yafai to win by stoppage within the second half.
Solomon Dacres, 6-0 (2), is one other coming house – he’s from Bearwood – and he goes into his 10-rounder in opposition to South African lefty Chris Thompson, 12-4-1 (7), because the English heavyweight champion.
Dacres, who’s been troubled by a shoulder harm since turning over after being a part of the Great Britain beginner squad, gained the vacant belt by stopping Robert Ismay in March in two, selecting his photographs nicely after shaking up the Geordie. Thompson, who’s misplaced his final two, might final the complete 10.
The welterweight 10-rounder between Alnwick southpaw Cyrus Pattinson, 6-0 (4), and Conah Walker, 11-2-1 (3), ought to be enjoyable.
Walker is from Wolverhampton and is bound to have loads of help, however he’s coming off a loss down at 140lbs and Pattinson posted a profession finest win final trip, stopping former British and Commonwealth champion Chris Jenkins within the ninth of a fight-of-the-year contender.
That was solely Pattinson’s sixth combat and proved he has the mettle for the professionals after serving his beginner apprenticeship with Birtley Boys and Great Britain. Walker is an trustworthy professional who’s gained Midlands honours at 147lbs and pushed Samuel Antwi laborious over 10 for the St George’s belt.
He received all the way down to 140lbs for his final combat and was outpointed over eight by Manchester’s cellular Kane Gardner. Pattinson’s come forward-style will go well with him extra, however Cyrus seems to be too sturdy and may win on factors.
Another scheduled 10-rounder sees Oxford’s Jordan Flynn, 9-0 (1) tackle native stalwart, the 19-10-1 (1) Kane Baker at super-featherweight. The pair fought earlier than, with Flynn taking a detailed choice after eight in April. Flynn can present what he discovered and win extra comfortably on factors.
THE VERDICT – Yafai and Frank seem like they’re stepping into reverse instructions.
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